Diary of a civil servant + Electoral reform | The Guardianhttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/series/diary-of-a-civil-servant+electoralreform
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Coalition ministers get to take the gloves off | Secret diary of a civil servanthttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/feb/20/secret-diary-civil-servant-electoral-reform
The AV debate gives Tory and Lib Dem rivals a chance to resume hostilities after months of gentle disagreements<p>Has coalition destroyed political language? Normally the language of government is jagged highs and lows. Instead, this time around, it is gentle and undulating hills, some ups and downs, but nothing that stands out. The issues are difficult but the language has lost its edge, as if working in coalition has had the effect of turning Whitehall all round and smooth.</p><p>Civil servants are trained and experienced in adversarial politics at every level. We expect ministers to crash into each other and resolve their differences with private and often public fights and spats. The coalition has changed all that. Since the election there has been a golden rule to keep a lid on things and never let arguments spill out into the open. Government is now like a top law firm that never takes its cases to court. The litigation department has been scrapped – now we are market leaders in negotiation and mediation.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/feb/20/secret-diary-civil-servant-electoral-reform">Continue reading...</a>Liberal-Conservative coalitionAlternative voteElectoral reformUK newsPoliticsAV referendumSun, 20 Feb 2011 00:04:10 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/feb/20/secret-diary-civil-servant-electoral-reformPa/PANick Clegg and William Hague: colleagues on the government frontbench, opponents on AV. Photograph: PaPa/PANick Clegg and William Hague: colleagues on the government frontbench, opponents on AV. Photograph: PaGuardian Staff2011-02-20T00:04:10ZEnter the Lords, bloody-minded and hellbent on mischiefhttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/feb/13/house-of-lords-bloody-minded
The coalition has failed to focus on the dynamics of the House of Lords and now it is paying the price<p>The Lords are back with a vengeance. Last week, the House of Lords moved centre stage in the Westminster drama, ripping apart the government's flagship bill on electoral reform.</p><p>Whenever a government looks strong in the House of Commons, it often falls to the noble Lords to step in and become the opposition. Like many governments before it, the coalition has failed to focus properly on the dynamics of the second chamber. Arguably, the coalition has again invested too much energy securing a deal in its own ranks without considering how to win support elsewhere.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/feb/13/house-of-lords-bloody-minded">Continue reading...</a>House of LordsAlternative voteElectoral reformLiberal-Conservative coalitionPoliticsUK newsAV referendumSun, 13 Feb 2011 00:04:16 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/feb/13/house-of-lords-bloody-mindedLeon Neal/APThe House of Lords has become the government's achilles heel. Photograph: Leon Neal/APLeon Neal/APThe House of Lords has become the government's achilles heel. Photograph: Leon Neal/APGuardian Staff2011-02-13T00:04:16Z